Day ahead load nomination system

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an operator of a load facility to nominate a specific level of load curtailment into an auction or scheduling mechanism of an independent system, transmission, or distribution system operator (ISO). A load operator manages demand requirements for a subsequent day using a user interface, which in one embodiment provides a view of expected demand, curtailment bid, and backfill planning on an hourly basis. Demand curtailment bids are communicated to the power transmission system operator. Accepted bids are displayed on the user interface. In embodiments, the power transmission system operator communicates curtailment instructions to the load facility to manage process scheduling and/or on-site generation capabilities to effectuate demand reduction. The described systems and methods provide enhanced flexibility to load facility operators to maintain needed control, helps ensure the lack of negative impacts on core processes, and encourages participation in demand-side management initiatives.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric load curtailment nominating system for a load facility, comprising:
 a computer processor;   memory;   a first data transmission interface to a curtailment auctioning and control system;   a second data transmission interface to a load facility control system;   a user interface; and   software code that, when loaded into the memory and run by the processor, causes the processor to accept entry of an amount of energy curtailment nominated for a first hour in a twenty-four hour period through the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to accept entry of an amount of additional energy needed in a second hour in the twenty-four hour period through the user interface to accommodate the amount of energy curtailment nominated in the first hour. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface comprises a grid of boxes, wherein each box represents an amount of energy during a particular hour. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to determine a total amount of energy curtailment nominated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to determine whether a total amount of additional energy matches the total amount of energy curtailment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to submit an amount of energy curtailment nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the first data transmission interface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to receive an amount of energy curtailment awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the first data transmission interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to send the amount of energy curtailment awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and the amount of additional energy awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the second data transmission interface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to receive an amount of energy used in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the second data transmission interface. 
     
     
         10 . A load facility, comprising:
 a plurality of electric loads;   a load facility control system comprising a load control signal interface; and   an electric load curtailment nominating system, comprising:
 a computer processor; 
 memory; 
 a first data transmission interface to a curtailment auctioning and control system; 
 a second data transmission interface to the load facility control system; 
 a user interface; and 
 software code that, when loaded into the memory and run by the processor, causes the processor to accept entry of an amount of energy curtailment nominated for a first hour in a twenty-four hour period through the user interface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The load facility of  claim 10 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to accept entry of an amount of additional energy needed in a second hour in the twenty-four hour period through the user interface to accommodate the amount of energy curtailment nominated in the first hour. 
     
     
         12 . The load facility of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises a grid of boxes, wherein each box represents an amount of energy during a particular hour. 
     
     
         13 . The load facility of  claim 12 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to determine a total amount of energy curtailment nominated. 
     
     
         14 . The load facility of  claim 13 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to determine whether a total amount of additional energy matches the total amount of energy curtailment. 
     
     
         15 . The load facility of  claim 14 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to submit an amount of energy curtailment nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the first data transmission interface. 
     
     
         16 . The load facility of  claim 15 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to receive an amount of energy curtailment awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the first data transmission interface. 
     
     
         17 . The load facility of  claim 16 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to send the amount of energy curtailment awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and the amount of additional energy awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period to the load facility control system. 
     
     
         18 . The load facility of  claim 17 , wherein the load facility control system controls the plurality of electric loads based on a load control signal received over the load control signal interface. 
     
     
         19 . The load facility of  claim 18 , wherein the software code further causes the processor to receive an amount of energy used in each hour of the twenty-four hour period from the load facility control system. 
     
     
         20 . An electric load facility and electric load auctioning and curtailment system, comprising:
 a computerized electric load auctioning and curtailment control system that conducts daily auctions of nominated electric load curtailment and awards electric load curtailment; and   a load facility, comprising:
 a plurality of electric loads; 
 a load facility control system that controls the plurality of electric loads, comprising a load control signal interface; and 
 an electric load curtailment nominating system, comprising:
 a computer processor; 
 memory; 
 a first data transmission interface to the computerized electric load auctioning and curtailment control system; 
 a second data transmission interface to the load facility control system; 
 a user interface comprising a grid of boxes, wherein each box represents an amount of energy during a particular hour; and 
 software code that, when loaded into the memory and run by the processor, causes the processor to:
 accept entry of an amount of energy curtailment nominated for a first hour in a twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy needed in a second hour in the twenty-four hour period through the user interface to accommodate the amount of energy curtailment nominated in the first hour; 
 submit an amount of energy curtailment nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy nominated in each hour of the twenty-four hour period to the computerized electric load auctioning and curtailment control system through the first data transmission interface; and 
 receive an amount of energy curtailment awarded by auction in each hour of the twenty-four hour period and an amount of additional energy awarded in each hour of the twenty-four hour period through the first data transmission interface.